Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Best
Gay & Lesbian
Bangkok has a notoriously pink vibe to it. From kinky male-underwear shops
mushrooming at street corners to lesbian-only nightclubs, as a homosexual you
could eat, shop and play here for weeks without ever leaving the comfort of gay-
friendly venues.
Top Tips
›
Bangkok Pride Festival
(
www.bangkokpride.org
) is the single biggest event of the gay year, and is usually held
in mid-November.
›
Bangkok Lesbian
(
www.bangkoklesbian.com
) is the city's premier website for ladies who love ladies.
›
Utopia
(
www.utopia-asia.com
) publishes the
Utopia Guide to Thailand
, covering gay-friendly businesses in
Bangkok.
Lesbians
Although it would be a stretch to claim that Bangkok has a lesbian scene, lesbians have be-
come more visible in recent years, and there are a couple of lesbian-oriented bars. It's
worth noting that, perhaps because Thailand is still a relatively conservative place, lesbians
in Bangkok generally adhere to rather strict gender roles. Overtly 'butch' lesbians, called
tom
(from 'tomboy'), typically have short hair, bind their breasts and wear men's clothing.
Femme lesbians refer to themselves as
dêe
(from 'lady'). Visiting lesbians who don't fit in-
to one of these categories may find themselves met with confusion.
Transgender
Bangkok is famous for its open and visible transgender population - known locally as
ga
̀
·teu·i
(also spelt
kathoey
). Some are cross-dressers, while others have had sexual-reas-
signment surgery - Thailand is one of the leading countries for this procedure. Foreigners
